History, Facts and
Information about Trebonianus GallusThe content of this article
provides interesting history, facts and information about
the Emperor Gallus who ruled the empire of Ancient Rome. Read about the life of Trebonianus Gallus who can be described or
remembered as:

"The Emperor,
the Plague, the Persians and the mutiny"

Short Biography
about the life of Trebonianus
Gallus
Short Biography profile and facts about one of the most famous Romans of all, in the life of
Gallus, Emperor of Rome and provinces of the Roman Empire.

Name of next Emperor:
The successor to Gallus and his son, Volusian was Aemilian

Interesting facts
about the life of Trebonianus
Gallus
Obtain a fast overview of the times of the Roman Emperor
Gallus from the following facts and information about his life.
Why was Gallus famous? Accomplishments, achievements and
important events. The previous emperors Decius and his elder
son Herennius Etruscus had died fighting against the Goths
at the Battle of Abrittus. The younger son of Decius, called
Hostilian was aged 21 years old and he, together with
Trebonianus Gallus, who was an experienced soldier, were now
made emperors in the year 251AD. Hostilian and Gallus
concluded a disgraceful, but probably necessary peace with
the Goths. In return for the withdrawal of the Goths,
Trebonianus Gallus agreed to allow them to keep the loot and
Roman prisoners gained from their incursions and to pay them
an annual tribute.

Trebonianus Gallus - The Plague in RomeThat same year, in 251, the
plague broke out in the city of Rome. This started the
fifteen-year plague in the Roman Empire. The plague had
already ravished North Africa and trade from the Roman
provinces in this region brought the deadly virus to Europe.
At its height the plague was killed 5000 people in Rome
every day. The co-emperor of Gallus, Hostilian, was infected
by the plague and soon after died. Gallus then raised his
son Volusian to the position of co-emperor. The plague was
creating terrible problems in the city of Rome. Gallus
gained popular support with the plebs by providing proper
burials for all plague victims, even those who were too poor
to afford it. Romans were looking for someone to blame for
the outbreak of the plague. The Christians made a perfect
target the persecution of Christians once again featured in
Rome and its provinces.

Trebonianus Gallus - The Persians and the GothsGallus, preoccupied with
matters at home ignore the threat of invasion to the Eastern
Frontier by the Persian King Shapur I in 252AD. Shapur
defeated the Roman forces at the battle of Barbalissos and
soon controlled the Roman province of Syria and in 253AD he
captured Antioch. At the same time there was further
problems with the Goths. The governor of Upper Moesia
(modern-day Bulgaria), Aemilius Aemilianus, refused to pay
the annual tribute to the Goths which had been previously
agreed by Gallus. The Goths once again invaded the Lower
Danube in retaliation for the Roman breach of the peace
treaty. Aemilian defeated the invading Goths and his
troops proclaimed him as emperor.

Trebonianus Gallus - The
Coup
Aemilian immediately marched his army towards Rome. Gallus
and Volusianus gathered an army and marched north to prevent
Aemilian from reaching the city. Gallus requested that
Publius Licinius Valerianus brought reinforcements from
Germany to join his forces. But the reinforcements never
arrived. Gallus tried to stall for time but in August 253
AD, camped at Interamna (Lazio, Italy), word reached Gallus
that Aemilian was rapidly approaching with a large force of
soldiers. The news reached the army of Gallus and Volusian
and fearing defeat, the troops mutinied and the two
co-emperors were murdered. The troops then declared for
Aemilian who became the next emperor.

Trebonianus Gallus -
Crisis of the Third Century - Era of the Barracks Emperors
(238 - 268)The Crisis of the Third
Century was the period in Roman history following the death
of Alexander Severus when Rome entered into the era of
Military Anarchy commonly known as the Crisis of the Third
Century. During the Crisis of the Third Century, lasting
over 50 years, not one
single Emperor died of natural causes. Revolts sprung up in
virtually all of the provinces and ambitious men struggled
for power. During the crisis there were civil wars, street
fights between the citizens of Rome and soldiers of the
imperial guard, fierce foreign enemies, plagues,
famines, fire and earthquakes. The "Barracks Emperors" (238
- 268) were all military generals who seized power by
force. Taxation was high, the economy was failing and Roman
territories were being captured by barbarians and the Roman
government was unstable. During this
uncertain era and violent environment the promise of an
afterlife seemed to be the only thing to hope for. And
people started to turn towards a new religion, Christianity.